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Your Philadelphia Basketball News SourceTue, 03 Mar 2015 13:13:44 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1The Thomas Robinson Affairhttp://philadunkia.com/?p=13399&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-thomas-robinson-affair
http://philadunkia.com/?p=13399#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 19:52:04 +0000http://philadunkia.com/?p=13399On Tuesday, February 24th, the 76ers officially announced they had acquired forward Thomas Robinson through a claim in the NBA’s waiver wire and confirmed for all of us what the internet had been reporting for nearly 12-hours prior to their release. Robinson appeared in 32 games for the Blazers this season averaging 12 minutes per game and posting stats of 3.6 ppg. and 4.2 rpg. In 172 career games, Robinson owns a shine of 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest. The Sixers will be Robinson’s fourth NBA stop (Kings, Rockets & Blazers).

Just two Thursdays ago, the Portland Trailblazers traded Robinson, the former 5th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft to Denver in a deal that fetched Arron Afflalo in return. Numerous reports say that Robinson’s agent quickly negotiated a deal with the Nuggets to have Robinson waived because if TRob should clear waivers, a 10-day deal had already been worked out with the Brooklyn Nets. Of course, that’s where Sam Hinkie entered the picture.

After we learned that this move had become official, my Philadunkia colleague C. Smith texted with one of his NBA front office contacts who works for a Western Conference franchise that previously employed Robinson and the response Smith received read as follows, “No need for xcitement on ur end over this move.” Another contact who is an NBA advanced scout commented to Smith on the phone, “I know he’s only 23, but I have not seen anything that impresses during his time…(in the NBA). ” These less than impressive reveiews come from two NBA types my colleague has known for years and who’s opinions he trusts. To think that one of the young, developing players currently on the 76ers roster could lose minutes to a 2012 Draft bust who over the last 2+ NBA seasons has never averaged more than 6.2 ppg. during any month of his short career (That number was reached just once — March 2014.) is not a good development for the 76ers franchise.

There was also a fair amount of drama surrounding the acquisition of Robinson. Most of the drama originated from Twitter (especially Nets fans) and centered on the idea that the move was not about basketball. It was about (in the words of Randy Moss) “straight cash homey”. We all know that the Sixers needed the sum of Robinson’s remaining salary to reach within 90 percent of the NBA’s salary floor before season’s end – Robinson’s $3,678,360 salary actually pushes the 7-6 over the salary floor. NBA purists and many online “experts” took to their soap boxes and blasted this acquisition as just another tanking move by Hinkie and in general an embarrassment to the 76ers franchise.

Nearly a week later and depsite what the haters have said or written, I still think the acquisition of Thomas Robinson makes sense for the Sixers as a low-risk, high-reward move. Robinson was, and remains an intriguing prospect with some obvious upside. Again, he was the 5th pick in the 2012 based off of the athleticism and ability he showed at Kansas, and at 23 years young, there remains for Robinson to tap into that yet unrealized potential.

He is an energetic an fierce player who attacks the glass, and has the strength to finish around the rim, even in the midst of other bigs. He has a high motor, and plays with a nasty edge out on the hardwood. This was evident in his debut with the Sixers last Wednesday, as he finished with 7 points and 6 rebounds – all collected from his efforts around the rim. Over his next two games in a 76er uniform, TRob has averaged 9 points (Despite shooting just 6-18 from the field — 33%) to go along with 9 boards per night. I know it is a small sample size on a tanking team, but so far, Robinson has been a very solid pickup by Hinkie.

Robinson is limited offensively, and may not have the highest basketball-IQ, which may have contributed to the fact that he has been tossed around to four franchises already in his short stint in the NBA. Robinson also has never had ample opportunity to contribute on-the-court, something he might get with the Sixers. He will likely never be a starting-caliber forward, but it will be Brett Brown’s task to see if he can turn him into a consistent contributor, that could potentially hold a reserve role, or at least be flipped for some value down the line. It doesn’t hurt to take a cheap look at a potential talent, especially one that is just three years removed from being the fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Michael Kaskey-Blomain is a scribe for Philadunkia. You can follow him on Twitter @therealmikeKB.

Jason Richardson, SG26 MIN | 4-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 12 PTS | +14 +/-The fact that he is on the court and contributing to this squad is amazing to me. His stroke was on last night and that opened up the floor for Noel. JRich dropped a beautiful dime to Noel in the late 4th Q that led to a big flush.

Thomas Robinson, PF13 MIN | 2-7 FG | 5-6 FT | 9 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | 0 +/-TRob (from now on a.k.a. TNasty) played another fierce game and I love his aggressive play that has an edge to it. His 5-5 shooting from the FT line in the early 4th Q is what propelled the Sixers to this win.

Brett Brown
After getting embarrassed by Milwaukee on Wednesday night and with only 1 practice under their belts, Brown had his new troops ready to play last night. I tip my cap to you sir. Putting the long armed Grant on Wall was a great move as well.

Six Things We Saw Last Night…

1) A back and forth game turned in the Sixers favor early on in the 4th Q with a 6-0 run that was comprised of 5 made FTs from TRob and 1 from JaVale. The Sixers suddenly had a 69-61 lead and never trailed again. Washington got within two points on Sessions’ 3-pointer with 7:16 left, However the Sixers got the lead back up to six, 79-73, on Richardson’s 3 with 3:10 left. Washington never would get closer than four the rest of the way.

2) The Wiz set a season low for points Wednesday night in a 97-77 loss to Minny and vs. the 7-6 they weren’t much better posting only 81 points. John Wall scored only 5 against the TWolves and last night scored 21 points but on 7-of-26 shooting. As a team the Wizards shot 35.3% last and they have now lost six in a row and 11 of 13.

3) Brett Brown on Noel’s improved play since MCW’s departure…”I think it’s the added responsibility after trades were made, that he’s embraced maybe more of, if you will, an important role,” Brown said. “You’re looking around, it’s you. We need you.”

4) After recording 28 turnovers against the Bucks on Wednesday night, the Sixers only gave it away 15 times last night…However, they shot just 35% from the field.

5) “Since we’ve come back we’ve tried to refocus our defensive identity,” Brown said. “The new guys are starting to understand some of our concepts and rules and to the group’s credit, they guarded tonight.”

6) Thanks to the always popular promotion Dollar Dog Night and a postgame gospel concert, the Sixers packed the WFC — 18,089 fans.

You can follow us on Twitter @philadunkia.

]]>http://philadunkia.com/?feed=rss2&p=134261Fo’ with the Foes: Washington Wizardshttp://philadunkia.com/?p=13411&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fo-with-the-foes-washington-wizards-4
http://philadunkia.com/?p=13411#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 20:21:49 +0000http://philadunkia.com/?p=13411This ‘still trying to recover from the ass kicking the Bucks gave the 76ers’ edition of “Fo’ with the Foes” – Philadunkia’s advanced scouting series which with the help of an accomplished journalist from around the NBA beat or blog world, previews key upcoming 76ers games – features tonight’s opponent, the Washington Wizards who right now may be playing as poorly as the 76ers. The Wizards have lost 5 straight and 10 of their last 12, but still boasts Sixer killers John Wall and Marcian Gortat.

After the jump, I’ll look a Fo’ key items for tonight’s game. Additionally, we’ll get a little more insight into the Washington team the Sixers face tonight from our colleague Rashad Mobley at truthaboutit.net as Rashad will answer Fo’ questions on the Wizards from us here at Philadunkia.

Here are Fo’ key items I will be watching for tonight…

1) 76er Turnovers: A 76ers team featuring a host of new faces — at one point there were three 76ers on the floor who were not on the roster last week — turned the ball over an embarrassing 28 times. “You get a bunch of new guys crashing into each other, and you turn it over,” coach Brett Brown said. “It’s an extraordinary amount of turnovers.” Obviously after 1.5 days of practice (insert Iverson joke here) I am looking for that number to come down significantly.

2) Jason Richardson: In his third game back after being sidelined roughly two full seasons due to knee and foot issues, ol’ man Richardson led the 76ers in scoring (16 points) vs. the Bucks on Wednesday night. He’ll never be the high flying J-Rich I remember form his GSW days, but he shot the ball well (6-11; 4-8 from three) and was the only reason the Sixers didn’t lose by 40. I will be interested to see if he can make that type of contribution two games in a row.

3) Thomas Robinson: I am still on the fence about the Sixers acquiring (off waivers) the 6-10 forward who was the 5th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Against Milwaukee he played an aggressive, physical style of ball that had a nasty edge to it (scored 7 points while grabbing 6 boards). That nasty streak is something this Sixers roster — which is filled with “nice guy” players who seem happy just to be in the League — is desperately lacking. I’ll have an eye tonight on TRob to see what kind of effort he brings in his second game as a 76er.

4) Proof of Life: The 76ers were absolutely embarrassed by the Bucks and MCW on Wednesday night. I know all the reasons/excuses and I understand them. Still, tonight I am looking for the 76ers to show a pulse as well as some pride and play much better. Come out with energy and hustle, execute on offense, play solid defense and make this a competitive basketball game against n Wizards team that is beat up and struggling badly right now.

Philadunkia: The Wiz have lost 5 straight and 10 of their last 12. What has caused this team that looked so good in December and January to come unglued?

Rashad Mobley at truthaboutit.net:The kneejerk reaction is to say the Wizards peaked in December and January, and now they are just in a slump, but that’s far from the truth. As I heard Tony Kornheiser say on his radio show on Thursday, a slump is when you simply lose a few games in a row as the Wizards have done five straight times. But just like the Cleveland Cavaliers are hot because they’ve won 18 of 20, the Wizards are ice cold because they’ve lost 10 of their last 12, and they’ve gone just 8-13 sincetriumphantly defeating Derrick Rose and the Bulls in Chicago on January 14th–their last victory against a winning team. The Wizards have been struggling for over a month now and there the list of reasons why is quite lengthy.

The recent slide can partly be attributed to the absence of young Bradley Beal. Beal can shoot the three and he’s not adverse to driving, creating contact and getting to the line–not coincidentally the Wizards have struggled in that area as of late. 35 year old Rasual Butler who on the offensive side of the floor made everyone forget Trevor Ariza early in the season, is in an extended shooting slump, which is only highlights his deficiencies on offense (he tried and failed miserably to guard LeBron James during last week’s blowout). Paul Pierce — his 25-point game against the Warriors notwithstanding — is starting to look every bit of his 37-years on both ends of the floor, and Otto Porter (lack of consistency and confidence) and Martell Webster (lack of rhythm after back surgery) have not picked up the slack. When you throw in a thin ineffective bench, a slumping Marcin Gortat and an unrealistic burden on John Wall’s shoulders (he’s a playmaker not a scorer) you have an (un)perfect storm of obstacles which the Wizards can’t seem to outrun. And I’ve yet to mention that the Wizards had the NBA’s second-easiest schedule before the break and the fourth-most difficult one after it.

Their recent struggles aren’t at all surprising. This team needs a lot to go right to thrive and right now everything is going wrong.

Philadunkia: Do you think the Wizards can recover from this slump and finish out the regular season with a strong push?

Rashad Mobley at truthaboutit.net: It depends on how you define recover. As Randy Wittman alluded to before the Cleveland game last week, a big chunk of the season (54 games to be exact) was played before the All-Star break, which means percent (28 games remain, and the Wizards lost the first four of those. Luckily for them, the upcoming schedule does contain some opportunities to get better quickly–provided they mildly improve on their recent play of course. The Wizards face the lowly Sixers tonight (yes I know the Timberwolves are also lowly and they beat Washington), the next night they play the Pistons–yes the Wizards lost by 17 to them last Sunday, but they did lead by 11 at halftime. The next three games are against the Derrick Rose-less Bulls, the Chris Bosh-less Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks and the New Orleans Hornets. Thess teams will all give the Wizards an opportunity to win at some point, because they are submerged in time of injury or personnel related struggles of their own.

On the court, the Wizards need Beal back on the floor. His presence allows Pierce to have open looks, it lets Wall get out and run and it allows Nene and Gortat (despite his struggles) more room to operate. He also runs with the second unit, which may jump start Rasual Butler’s jump shot and give the newly acquired Ramon Sessions some improved looks on the floor. It isn’t fair to pin a strong playoff push on the injury-prone Beal, but given that the other players on the roster (Wall excluded) have not stepped up in his absence, there simply aren’t a lot of places to look for help.

The good long-term news is that the Eastern Conference is top heavy and the Wizards’ are unlikely to fall out of the playoffs. They won’t catch the top three teams in the East (the Hawks, the Raptors and the Cavs), but they are just three games behind the now Derrick Rose-less Bulls. If the Wizards play well enough to remain in the fourth or fifth spot, and play the Bulls in the first round, they have a decent chance to win that series and advance to the second round the playoffs–where they will most likely get trounced by the aforementioned three top tier teams. If they allow Milwaukee (who has won seven of their last ten games) to overtake them or if they continue losing and fall below the fifth seed, they will surely be blown out in the first round, which would mean they never recovered from their slump. The line between feast and famine is literally one or two playoffs slots.

Philadunkia: What’s the latest on a possible return date for Bradley Beal?

Philadunkia: In the embarrassing loss to Minnesota the other night, John Wall finished with a season-low five points. You cover the Wiz on a daily basis, so how do expect Wall to respond tonight against the 76ers?

Rashad Mobley at truthaboutit.net: Wall will be fine tonight. To be fair against the Timberwolves everyone not named Nene played badly and received a failing grade, so he was in good company. Wall has not played badly during the Wizards’ extended slump. Yes his turnovers-per-game have increased (he’s averaging 4.1 this month, after averaging 3.9 and 3.4 in December and January respectively), and his trips to the free-throw line are at a season low 3.2 per game, but his February averages of 15.1 points and 9.9 assists aren’t too far behind his season averages of 17 points and an NBA-leading 10.1 assists. That being said, Wall has had to face these four point guards the last four games Ricky Rubio (Minnesota), Stephen Curry (Golden State), Reggie Jackson (Detroit) and Kyrie Irving (Cleveland). I’m not here to besmirch the good names and NBA prowess of Mr. Isaiah Canaan, but I think Wall may step on the gas a bit given the lesser competition.

Now if Sixers backup Ish Smith and Wall face off, that’s another story. Two years ago this happened.

Robert Covington, SF34 MIN | 6-15 FG | 1-3 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 5 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 16 PTS | -4 +/-Cov recovered from a putrid start to this game (1-7 in 1st Q) to post a solid statistical night. However he was also MIA when the Heat put up their huge run in the 3rd Q and locked this game up.

Nerlens Noel, C31 MIN | 5-10 FG | 8-10 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 4 BLK | 0 TO | 18 PTS | 0 +/-I thought this was one of Noel’s best games to date. The fact that it came against Miami’s inside trio of Hassan Whiteside; “Birdman” and Haslem is a bonus (IMO). I will be interested to see what happens with Noel’s touches/numbers now that MCW is gone.

JaVale McGee, C12 MIN | 3-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | -11 +/-A 6-point outburst near the end of the 1st Q was all that JaVale could muster up last night. I’m also not sure how an athletic, 7-footer only grabs 2 boards in 12 minutes, but rebounding was an issue for all the 76ers last night.

JaKarr Sampson, SG20 MIN | 2-8 FG | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 2 TO | 5 PTS | -5 +/-After a stretch of 3 solid games, this was a rough one for Sampson who has not only fallen out of the starting lineup, but received less minutes than newcomer Ish Smith last night.

Hollis Thompson, SG28 MIN | 7-10 FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 22 PTS | -7 +/-HT’s 8 point burst from the end of the 1st Q through the start of the 2nd Q kept the Sixers in this high scoring-no defense affair last night. Unfortunately for me, HT is shooting his way on to the 2015-16 roster.

Brett Brown
Brown gets that A from me for sticking around through this mess. Just when the defense had improved significantly, he has to start from scratch again with a group of guards who are simply trying to “get theirs” in an effort to stay in the League. I would have quit the day after the trade deadline.

Six Things We Saw Last Night...

1) A highly entertaining (Unless you like defense a great deal.) and close game got ugly for the 76ers in the mid-3rd Q. With the Sixers leading 67-61 with 9 minutes in the 3rd, Miami put on 15-4 run and grabbed a 76-71 lead. The Heat then stretched that run to 30-12 overall in the 3rd Q and led 91-79 after three stanzas. Dragic and Deng combined for 20 points 3rd Q the 76ers posted 19 points total.

2) The 76ers defense was still shaking the sand from the Miami beaches out of its hair when this game started. They gave up 32 points in the 1st Q and 61 points in the 1st half as the Heat went on to set a season high for scoring with 119 points on the night. Miami shot 55% from the field; 52% from deep and placed 5 players in double figures. Included in that group was a season high 29 points by Luol Deng on 11-14 shooting. Hell former K-State star and NBA journeyman Henry (don’t call me Bill) Walker scored 11 points on the Sixers.

3) “We pride ourselves on playing defense and we’ve been pretty good at playing defense until this last couple of games,” Nerlens Noel said after the game.

4) “That is not who we are,” Brett Brown said. “That is not even close to who we are. You have a luxury of shooters coming in, and a punishment that we must regroup and reclaim our identity. It has to be about defense.” Fellas…this is going to happen when the GM trades the team’s best on-ball defender who is also a great shot blocker (KJ) and a player who excels at steals (MCW) in exchange for short guards who like to shoot.

5) ICYMI: Miami’s Dwyane Wade and breakout star Hassan Whiteside sat for the entire 4th quarter of this game…The Sixers have now lost 10 straight on the road…KJ McDaniels played 1 minute for the Rockets last night…

6) Via ESPN.com Stats: “Ish Smith made his 76ers debut, the guard appearing in his 222nd NBA game — for now eight different teams, after previous stops in Houston, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee, Phoenix and Oklahoma City. Smith had seven points and seven assists, becoming the 23rd player to log minutes for the 76ers this season.”

You can follow us on Twitter @philadunkia.

]]>http://philadunkia.com/?feed=rss2&p=133882Fo’ with the Foes: Miami Heathttp://philadunkia.com/?p=13379&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fo-with-the-foes-miami-heat-6
http://philadunkia.com/?p=13379#commentsMon, 23 Feb 2015 20:03:59 +0000http://philadunkia.com/?p=13379This Monday afternoon edition of “Fo’ with the Foes” – Philadunkia’s advanced scouting series which with the help of an accomplished journalist from around the NBA beat or blog world, previews key upcoming 76ers games – features tonight’s opponent, the Miami Heat who obviously will be without Chris Bosh tonight and have lost 5 of their last 7 games, yet still are still holding on to the 7th playoff spot in the East.

After the jump, I’ll look a Fo’ key items for tonight’s game. Additionally, we’ll get a little more insight into the Miami team the Sixers face tonight from our colleague Brandon Di Perno at hothothoops.com as Brandon will answer Fo’ questions on the Heat from us here at Philadunkia.

Here are Fo’ key items I will be watching for tonight…

1) Isaiah Canaan: I would like to have seen Canaan take a few less 3PAs in his 76ers debut, but overall I thought he played fairly well — 14 pts. on 5-12 shooting. While the Orlando Magic’s backcourt is one of the rising duos in the Association, they are not Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic. So I will be very interested to see how Canaan handles playing against two All-Star caliber guards in just his second NBA game for the 7-6.

2) Robert Covington’s Stroke: Yes, Cov scored 16 points and nearly recorded a double-double (9 rips) against the Magic, but he shot 3-9 for deep and he is now 3-14 from deep (21.4%) in the two games coming off the ASB. Tonight I’d like to see Brown call the new #1 option’s number early and often so that Cov can his stroke back on track. If #33 falls into a long shooting slump, the Sixers will become unwatchable over the stretch run of Tank 2.0.

3) 76ers to Get a Win on the Road: I know the Sixers played last night in Orlando and that Philadunkia’s home team has lost 9 straight on the road, but this roster is young and resillient. The Heat who have lost 5 of their last 7 are not. Additionally, the Heat are a mess right now. Thus, I am hoping the Brown & Co. can take advantage of chaos the addition of Dragic and the loss of Bosh have created for Spoelstra on the court and somehow steal a win down in South Beach.

4) Hassan Whiteside: I actually did a profile on this kid for HoopsTV back when Whiteside was at Marshall and he declared for the 2010 NBA Draft. Since then I have followed his career closely and I know that it has been a long journey for him. So I am delighted to witness the success he is having right now (14 & 14 per night over his last 10 games.). Tonight I am looking forward to watching Whiteside up close for an entire game and checking out just how far his game has come over the last 4 years.

Philadunkia: With Bosh out for the season and Dragic now in a Heat uniform, what are your thoughts on the style of play we will see from the Heat down the stretch?

Brandon Di Perno @ EightPointsNineSeconds.com: It’s tough to say as Bosh has been a huge part of Miami’s offense for the last four years. However, this is the first time Miami’s had a traditional point guard and center in a very long time, with that I think they might elect to run a more traditional motion offense. If that doesn’t occur they might just unleash Dragic, which wouldn’t be an issue. Spoelstra is a very solid coach so whatever he does, I’m sure it will put the Heat in the best position possible given their recent woes.

Philadunkia: Can the Heat replace Bosh’s production? If so, outside of Dragic, how does Spoelstra go about it?

Brandon Di Perno @ EightPointsNineSeconds.com: For the Heat, this season has been about one door opening and another door closing. Wade, Bosh and Whiteside have only started 2 games together all season, and every time it looks like progress is being made someone falls victim to injury. The Heat can’t replace Bosh’s production in its entirety, but with new players in new roles it will be up to some to step up. Mario Chalmers for example should thrive as a sixth man, and Deng should see an uptick in production with a capable point guard finding him the ball a la Derrick Rose.

Philadunkia: After the loss on Saturday, Spoelstra said, “It looked like we were strangers out there. We can fix that.” But can the Heat get it fixed in time to make the playoffs/ be a threat come playoff time?

Brandon Di Perno @ EightPointsNineSeconds.com: There’s still a lot of time left in the season, so I’m sure the Heat will figure it out. Spoelstra is right though, in the literal sense. This new Heat team are strangers to each other, they haven’t played with each other and sometimes a mid-season change like that messes up chemistry. It’s important to note these players look at each other like family, if Wade’s social media presence tells you anything, it’s that he and Norris were very close. I personally think the Heat can fix themselves come the postseason, but if they don’t it won’t be a failure. Miami’s in a great position to compete over the next couple of years.

Philadunkia: Obviously Hassan Whiteside has played out of his mind for the Heat of late. He can score, rebound and block shots. What areas of his game still need work?

Brandon Di Perno @ EightPointsNineSeconds.com: Hassan Whiteside has been a godsend. He is an athletic beast who strikes fear into all of his opponents, and I believe this is only the beginning for him. There’s not much Hassan can do to improve on his game at this moment in time. Everything he does fits his role, and he does it very well. If Whiteside could improve passing the ball and at the free throw line he would be close to unstoppable, but really that’s it. With Wade being back too, he should only continue to dominate.

]]>http://philadunkia.com/?feed=rss2&p=133791Fo’ with the Foes: Indiana Pacershttp://philadunkia.com/?p=13359&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fo-with-the-foes-indiana-pacers-5
http://philadunkia.com/?p=13359#commentsFri, 20 Feb 2015 20:14:18 +0000http://philadunkia.com/?p=13359This first game back from All-Star Weekend edition of “Fo’ with the Foes” – Philadunkia’s advanced scouting series which with the help of an accomplished journalist from around the NBA beat or blog world, previews key upcoming 76ers games – features tonight’s opponent, the Indiana Pacers who won 4 of their last 5 games headed into the break and are two games back of the 8th playoff spot in the East.

After the jump, I’ll look a Fo’ key items for tonight’s game. Additionally, we’ll get a little more insight into the Pacers team the Sixers face tonight from our colleague Jared Wade at 8points9Seconds.com as Jared will answer Fo’ questions on the Pacers from us here at Philadunkia.

Here are Fo’ key items I will be watching for tonight…

1) The 76ers’ Energy and Attitude: Sam Hinkie just gutted a roster that was starting to gel as a team, was highly entertaining to watch and appeared to enjoy playing together. On a team that’s already struggling for wins and to keep spirits high, these changes will not be easy items for the coaching staff and players to digest. Tonight, if the Sixers have anything in the tank emotionally, I’ll be very impressed.

2) TheSixers Defense: Yesterday’s trades create an interesting scenario on the defensive end. Gone is KJ the team’s best all-around defender and a great shot blocker. Also gone is MCW, one of the team’s leaders in steals, but also one of its weakest on-ball defenders. I’ll be watching tonight to see if the Sixers defense which had been steadily improving looks any worse. Or maybe via some miracle, it gets better without MCW in the 1st-five.

3) Tim Frazier: It’s your show young buck, lets witness if this assist machine (8.7 apg.) can turn his second 10-day contract into a deal for the rest of the season.

4) Robert Covington: With MCW gone, Covington now becomes the Sixer that every opposing defense will aim to stop. I am eager to watch if he can handle the pressure of being a #1 option in Brown’s offense. I’ll also be looking to see if/how Brown helps this kid with his X&Os as other team’s defenses scheme to shut down Cov.

Philadunkia: Were you surprised the Pacers made no moves at the trade deadline?

Jared Wade @ EightPointsNineSeconds.com: Not really. They want to make the playoffs, so I was expecting them to by buyers rather than sellers if they did anything. And, frankly, they just don’t have many assets other teams want. If they were willing to deal there first-round pick this summer (which they probably shouldn’t have been), then that would obviously get some attention, but I don’t think many GMs are thirsting for Solomon Hill or Luis Scola’s expiring deal. They were reportedly in talks with Oklahoma City about Reggie Jackson, but Larry Bird can be bit cautious and it seems like a lot of other front offices fell into a mind set of, “Screw it, just get the deal done and we’ll figure out what we’re getting back later.”

Philadunkia: The Pacers 21-33, so what are you expecting from them the rest of the season?

Jared Wade @ EightPointsNineSeconds.com: I think they will play well, be better than .500, and generally be very watchable. People really don’t appreciate how many injuries they’ve had. George Hill has missed almost 40 games, David West missed 15, C.J. Miles missed around 10, Ian Mahinmi has missed 20ish, Rodney Stuckey missed about 8 and started the year on a minutes count, Roy Hibbert missed a few. There was one game where, counting Paul George, their seven best players were unavailable. But since everyone has (mostly) gotten back, they’ve looked a lot better, and most of this is due to George Hill, who is playing balls-to-the-wall right now from an aggression standpoint. He’s arguably been playing the best ball of his Pacers tenure over the past 10 games. With Miami, Brooklyn, and Boston all theoretically getting a bit better, it may be a little tougher now. But I expect them to make the playoffs.

Philadunkia: I believe a return date of 3/17 has been set for Paul George. But in reality, how much game action do you think George will see over the last month or so of the season?

Jared Wade @ EightPointsNineSeconds.com: He is supposedly doing everything but full-court 5-on-5 in practice now, and I think that 3/17 date sounds reasonable. He will naturally be on a minutes restriction for the first four games or so, but I expect him to be back now and get up to 25 minutes per game by the end. It’s a bone break (well, two bones), not a soft tissue issue, so the risk of re-injury should be minimal. And with the amount of physical therapy and strength training he’s been doing, his legs should be stronger than ever. Of course, the mental struggle to overcome the physical limitations his brain will believe he still has will be the hardest part of getting back. Well, that and the conditioning. But I think he’ll get back and we’ll see a few flashes of the All-NBA guy from last year before the year ends.

Philadunkia: Heading into the ASB, what’s one on-the-court item you liked about the Pacers that we should be on the look out for tonight?

Jared Wade @ EightPointsNineSeconds.com: George Hill leading the show. Since he has been back in the starting lineup (only the past five games), the Pacers have played with much more energy and unity. It’s a credit to the team’s resiliency and the deep bench players (Donald Sloan, A.J. Price, Lavoy Allen) that this team even has 22 wins right now, and they have played hard like professionals all year. But now that Hill is back, it’s just a bit different. They seem to believe that playing with full effort and precision with earn them wins now, and it has shown with a big win over the Cavaliers, a near-defeat of the Spurs, a late-game thriller to beat the Hornets, and a throttling of the Pelicans leading into the All-Star break. The Pacers are 4-1 in the five games George Hill started in February. That’s not a coincidence.Thanks to Jared for his time and answers.

]]>http://philadunkia.com/?feed=rss2&p=133590Hinkiepalooza IV — Pros & Conshttp://philadunkia.com/?p=13345&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hinkiepalooza-iii-pros-cons
http://philadunkia.com/?p=13345#commentsFri, 20 Feb 2015 15:47:53 +0000http://philadunkia.com/?p=13345A record 39 players were moved at yesterday as well as more than a dozen potential draft picks in what can only be labeled the most entertaining trade deadline day in history. Personally, I have never had so much 76ers related fun on Twitter.

Of course 76ers General Manager Sam Hinkie was mixing it up something fierce yesterday as the Sixers were part of three significant trades. As you know by now, starting point guard Michael Carter Williams and rookie sensation KJ McDaniels are departing, along with the draft rights to Cenk Akyol. On the way to the Sixers are two protected 1st round draft picks and big man JaVale McGee. Depending on which online “expert” review you read, Hinkie is either a genius or has set the Sixers’ rebuild back another 3 years.

After the jump I’ll provide Pros & Cons analysis of each trade Hinkie pulled off yesterday.

Pros: The 76ers received a 1st round pick that based on the way the Thunder played against Dallas last night should come to Hinkie this June at the 2015 NBA Draft, in exchange for a pile of cash (McGee’s contract/buyout) and a “prospect” who cannot get on the court for his team in Turkey. Many folks will say that Chu Chu — a 6-9, athletic, but raw project with a long wingspan — was a toss in for this deal, but I bet Hinkie has plans for developing him. Well done Sam, well done.

Cons: JaVale McGee’s BIG contract/buyout and his attitude. Whether the Sixers offer McGee a buyout and then waive the athletic and skilled, but frequently disappointing center or keep him and trade the former 1st round pick (18th overall in 2008) at a later date, McGee is going to cost the 76ers millions of dollars. He is owed $12million in 2015-16 and a potential buyout will not come cheap. The 76ers are $15million underneath the salary floor, but spending that cash on McGee in any form is a total waste.

Additionally, McGee has a reputation for being a problem in the locker room and for butting heads with coaches. One NBA executive I texted with about JaVale’s “baggage” described McGee as, “Not malicious, he’s just clueless on how to operate in this League.” I’m certain that’s not the type of player Hinkie and Brett Brown want around their big man assets (Noel & Embiid).

Pros: In the short run dealing MCW should help the 76ers eliminate any thoughts of accidentally winning several games during the stretch run of this season. I believe the Sixers are 1-23 over the last two years without MCW in the lineup. Additionally, the 76ers 3-point shooting percentage should improve as MCW’s jumper was flat broken from deep (25%). Finally, if I am brutally honest, Brown & Co. can stop working so hard to develop a player who IMO was only going to be a good, but never an elite NBA point guard. As a bonus, it almost guarantees that the Sixers will select a guard — Emmanuel Mudiay or D’Angelo Russell — and not another big with their own 1st round pick in the 2015 Draft.

Cons: The 76ers have once again traded the face of the franchise and a fan favorite player. At some point this type of move is going to have to stop if they expect fans to stay loyal to the franchise. Additionally, Hinkie’s rebuild plan and the timeframe in which the Sixers will be a competitive team has been pushed back by a year. Lastly, the Sixers now do not have an NBA caliber point guard on the current roster. Jakarr Sampson is not a lead guard. Tim Frazier, just signed to a second 10-day contract and Isaiah Canaan is now on the roster via another deadline deal (more on that in a minute) but neither of them is the level of player that I am comfortable with as my starting point man.

76ers get: Isaiah Canaan and 2nd-round pick

Rockets get:KJ McDaniels

Pros:The Sixers get Canaan (34th pick overall in 2013) to start at PG beginning next week and added another 2nd round pick to the stockpile. As we all know, KJ bet on himself in Summer 2014 by taking a 1-year deal with the Sixers and based on his solid play this season, it has worked in his favor. With this move, Hinkie doesn’t have to worry about overpaying for McDaniels this coming off-season. Additionally, while the 1-year deal was a smart negotiation by KJ’s agent, Hinkie didn’t like the move at all. So there is also something to be said for this trade removing tension from within the franchise.

The last “pro” on this trade may be farfetched, but I am going to put it out there. I also think that trading KJ opens up the possibility that 2014 draft prospect Jordan McRae will join the 76ers roster shortly. McRae’s (20 ppg.) Melbourne Tigers team in Australia is not going to make the playoff in the NBL and he could be available before the end of the month.

Cons: The 76ers moved the most athletic and entertaining player on their roster who had made a real connection with the fan base. With this move, Hinkie traded his best on ball defender and shot blocker as well. Personally, I believe that KJ was the catalyst for the improved defensive effort we have seen from the 76ers this season. Thus, I’ll be interested to see how the team responds on that end of the floor without KJ. Let’s be honest, from the day they drafted McDaniels Hinkie did not want to overpay for an athletic wing who could defend but was not a great shooter. One could argue that the Sixers screwed up this situation from the start.

2018: Sixers’ own No. 1 pick. The better of Brooklyn or Cleveland’s 2nd-round pick; the better of the Knicks’ or Clippers’ 2nd-round pick.

2019: Sixers own No. 1 pick. The Knicks’ 2nd-round pick. The better of the Bucks’ or the Kings’ 2nd-round pick.

2020: Sixers own No. 1 pick. The Nets’ 2nd-round pick.

You can follow us on Twitter @philadunkia.

]]>http://philadunkia.com/?feed=rss2&p=133455Former 76er Check-Inhttp://philadunkia.com/?p=13334&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=former-76er-check-in
http://philadunkia.com/?p=13334#commentsMon, 16 Feb 2015 19:14:31 +0000http://philadunkia.com/?p=13334With NBA All-Star Weekend hangover in full effect today, we thought it would be a solid idea to kick back, relax and check in with several of our favorite former 76ers. Whether it was via trade of free agency, these players all departed the City of Brotherly Love without a proper send off and have found varying degrees of success around the League.

After the jump, Philadunkia scribe Michael Kaskey-Blomain will give us with a brief analysis of how selected former 76ers are performing this season. But we’re not stopping with just MKB’s words. Ohhh no.

We texted and Tweeted our online colleagues around the Association who cover these former 76ers on a daily basis and we will provide you with those “insider” thoughts on each player’s performance so far in 2014-15.

Thad Young: Thad Young just can’t catch a break. He went from one of the league’s worst teams, record-wise, in the Sixers, to one of the league’s worst teams, record-wise, in the Timberwolves. Statistically, he has remained solid, and he serves as a nice on-court leader to some of Minnesota’s younger guys. It seems somewhat unlikely that he will stay there long-term however. Thad remains best-suited for a role as a third or fourth option on a contending team, as he is a versatile, multi-faceted forward who can contribute in a multitude of ways. Although he has been in the league for a while, he is still relatively young, and still has some good ball in front of him.

Colleague Quote: “The Wolves acquired Thad Young to fill the hole they created at power forward with the trade of Kevin Love. The idea was that Young would be a part of what they were hoping would be a competitive core along with Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, and Nikola Pekovic while their young players developed behind those guys. Unfortunately, injuries to several key guys derailed their plans, and Young was often left as the go-to veteran on a very young squad. He struggled some with that on his shoulders, but has been a real pro since day one and his production has improved immensely since the injured guys got back into the lineup.”

“Of course it’s been a difficult year off the court for him as well due to the death of his mother in the fall. That clearly affected him on the court as well, and only recently has he seemed more himself. His kids are also very popular in the locker room. Young has a player option for next season, and whether he will choose to become a free agent and move elsewhere, or stick around is one of the key questions for the Wolves heading toward next season.”

Eric Goldman at canishoopus.com

Evan Turner:Turner’s tenure in Philadelphia did not end favorably for the forward, and his time in Indiana ended even worse. Turner has a very specific skill set that requires him having the ball in his hands. When he is afforded such an opportunity, he can make plays, like he did last week when he hit a buzzer beater to give the Celtics a last-second victory over the East-leading hawks. Turner will show flashes of excellence and ability, but such flashes continue to be inconsistent. He has benefitted from being able to run some point in Boston in the absence of Rajon Rondo, but it seems very unlikely that the team will want to keep him there long-term, like when they’re trying to be good. So while Turner has some skills, his long-term future in the league remains uncertain.

Colleague Quote:“It might seem silly to praise a guy shooting so poorly (42% FG, 29% 3 FG), but Evan Turner has been a solid “jack of all trades” for the Boston Celtics this season. Most C’s fans wondered if Brad Stevens should be fitted for a straight-jacket when he targeted ET as a back-up PG in training camp. But despite his ability to routinely dribble away possessions, Turner is averaging a solid 8.6 assists per 48 minutes. And last but not least, Turner has been clutch. He’s hit game-winning shots in victories over Portland and Atlanta.”

Chuck M. at redsarmy.com

Spencer Hawes:Spencer’s minutes, and numbers, have dipped drastically in his first season in Los Angeles. He is not getting the same court time or opportunity that he did with the Sixers, but for the sake of the Clippers, that might be a good thing. Hawes has unique talent for his size, especially his ability to knock down shots out to the three-point line, and that ability makes him attractive to most teams. He is however not a starting-caliber center, like he played in Philadelphia. His role as a big off the bench that can come in, grab some rebounds, and pop some shots may be ideal for him. If he can find his stroke consistently, he could play an important part in the Clippers’ upcoming playoff push.

Colleague Quote: “Opposite of Barnes, things have been an outright disaster for Spencer. He was never worth the money and time offered this past summer, but he’s provide a massive upgrade in regard to previous frontcourt players. He’s struggled offensively. Can’t defend the rim. Can’t stay healthy. Isn’t helping a poor bench. You name it, he’s lacked it. Things have sort of looked up with Blake Griffin out but SH has a long ways to go before he can be half of what his contract asks of him.”

Trisity Miller at fullyclips.com

Jrue Holiday:Holiday has been hampered by injury issues since leaving Philadelphia. He played in only 34 games for the Pelicans last year, and has already missed significant time with injury issues this season. When on the court, Holiday continues to be an impressive point, averaging an 11th best 7 assists per. He has also shown the ability to dominate defensively. The Pelicans are a young, up-and-coming team that will likely be in the West’s playoff picture for years to come. If he can stay healthy, Holiday can look to continue his All-Star play from his final season with the Sixers, but staying out on the court is something he has been unable to do consistently since the trade.

Colleague Quote: “About a month ago, I wrote a piece claiming that Jrue was having the best season of his career. I think that is still true. He is posting career highs in PER and WS/48. More than that, he has done a better job managing his turnovers this year, which has always been his Achilles heel. Obviously, he isn’t getting a lot of national attention, and he probably won’t until he is on a winning team. With so many great scoring point guards in the League, it is easy to forget about Jrue. However, his play, especially his defense, has been so important for this team. He is clearly the second best player on this roster.”

“Having said that, there are still parts of his game that need work, and I think he is still building chemistry with his teammates. Nevertheless, Jrue is a stud, who can shut down some of the best perimeter scores in the league. I’m sorry if this clip breaks Philly fans hearts, but just take a look at his defense on this play against Russell Westbrook.”

“What I like best is that he’s a floor general, a willing and natural passer, a rim protector, and a go-to scorer — all wrapped up in one neat incredibly long bundle. As soon as he has a jump shot to go with it, he’ll be a top-5 NBA player.”

Nick Lewellen at bourbonstreetshots.com

Nikola Vucevic:Nik Vucevic is one guy that maybe the Sixers should have help on to. Vucevic was played spairignly in his single season with the Sixers under Doug Collins, before gool ole’ Doug shipped him off in the infamous Andrew Bynum debacle. Since leaving Philadelphia and joining Orlanda, Vucevic has blossomed into one of the game’s best young centers, and a double-double machine. He is averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds (!) for Orlando this season, and he serves as a centerpiece to that franchise’s own rebuild. He has good touch on the offensive end and is the league’s seventh-leading rebounder. You have to think, maybe if Vucevic was given a little more opportunity in Philadelphia, the organization wouldn’t have had to spend the past three summers chasing franchise-changing big guys.

Colleague Quote: “Nik has really come in to his own this season, especially on the offensive end. It’s clear that he put in a lot of work in the offseason, most notably on his post game, and it’s paid off big time. There are still some questions about him on the defensive end — he’s still not a true rim protector, and has some deficiencies when he’s guarding one-on-one — but overall, he’s really blossomed. The Magic got lucky and got him locked up on a fantastic four-year $48 million dollar deal — it has the potential to hit up to $52 million with incentives — and we should continue to see his growth, not only the rest of this year, but moving forward as well.”

Zach Oliver at orlandomagicdaily.com

Lou Williams:Things are going well for Lou Williams. He was just the inspiration for a Drake song, he has not one, but two girlfriends, and he’s the sixth man on one of the East’s top teams. After two seasons in the A-Town with his hometown Hawks, Williams is having his best scoring season yet in Toronto. He remains one of the League’s best bench scorers, and one of its top sixth men.

Colleague Quote: “Lou WIlliams has been able to come in off the bench and put up a lot of points really quickly. His ability to draw fouls and get to the foul line is incredible, and been a key cog in the Raptors benches ability to extend leads, or get the team back into games when they are down. He’s a bit of a black hole offensively, but that’s the price you pay for a guy who drop 20 points in 20 minutes.”

Sam Holako at raptorsrepublic.com

Matt Barnes: Matt Barnes has been all around the NBA, and was only with the Sixers for a single season. Still, his hustle and hard-nosed play make him a guy that teams like having around. He is currently a starter on one of the West’s best in the Clippers, and he continues to be a guy that can do a little bit of everything. He is also found of getting technical fouls.

Colleague Quote:“I had a chance to write about it previously, but I’m not sure Barnes could be playing better given the circumstances and where he’s at in his career in 2015. He’s nowhere in he echelon of role player as a Kyle Korver or JJ Redick, but he’s giving this team everything he has…And somehow that still isn’t enough though that’s a problem that should be taken up with the front office for failing to build depth around its stars.”

Trisity Miller at fullyclips.com

Kyle Korver:Korver is the league’s leading three-point shooter, volume-wise, so far this season, and he is the East’s best team best, and most reliable deep-threat. After twelve seasons in the league, he was finally just selected to his first All-Star team. His ability to space the floor is invaluable for Atlanta, whose motion offense affords him ample opportunity. Korver has always been able to shoot, but he has developed other areas of his game as well. He averages over four rebounds a game this season, and almost three assists, while also developing into an absolute dead-eye. Any team in the league would be happy to have Korver.

Colleague Quote: “Korver’s chase of the 50% FG; 50% 3FG; 90% FT club (the only person to do it) should be all you need to know.”

Mark Phelps at peachtreehoops.com

Michael Kaskey-Blomain is a scribe for Philadunkia. You can follow him on Twitter @therealmikeKB.

]]>http://philadunkia.com/?feed=rss2&p=133345Stay or Trade?http://philadunkia.com/?p=13316&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stay-or-trade
http://philadunkia.com/?p=13316#commentsWed, 11 Feb 2015 16:05:14 +0000http://philadunkia.com/?p=1331676ers General manager Sam Hinkie has already stated for the record that the Sixers will be “very active” in the days leading up to the February 19th NBA trade deadline and the anticipation of another draft day-ish, Hinkie-palooza event is simply killing the the scribes here at Philadunkia.

The 76ers have a 12-41 record on the books heading in to All-Star Weekend and we all know that Hinkie’s focus is on the long range future of this franchise. With those facts in mind, Jeff McMenamin and C. Smith will examine several 76er players caught up in the trade deadline rumor mill and offer an opinion as to whether that player will STAY with the Sixers for at least the remainder of this season or be involved in a TRADE prior to the 3pm deadline on February 19th.

Henry Sims (8.9 ppg.; 5.3 rpg.; 15.18 PER; 53.7 TS%):

McMenamin: Sims is a restricted free-agent next season, which means he’s definitely a guy you can shop. But here’s the thing, just what could you get for him through a trade? A late second rounder? Is that worth trading away a solid rotational guy?

If I’m Sam Hinkie, I just don’t see the point in trading him. If he’s attached to make salaries work in a bigger trade, fine. But, he’s only owed $1.2 million next season if the Sixers do intend to keep him around. He’s shown the ability to post consistent double-doubles off the bench and would be a nice energy guy to give Nerlens Noel or Joel Embiid a breather next season.

STAY with an asterisk

Smith: I agree with Jeff. If Sims can be traded as a piece in a larger deal that somehow secures a 1st round pick or a very early 2nd rounder, then I am all for dealing #35. I just don’t see that happening. Henry’s minutes are down significantly thanks to the emergence of the young kids as well as Brown’s love affair for LRMAM and thus his key numbers are down as well. His trade value is probably at its lowest point in his brief Sixers career. However, he still has value to the 76ers as the first big off the bench every night who can throw up the occasional double-double. Plus, he’s on a cheap salary for next season and can provide “veteran” leadership to this team in 2015-16.

McMenamin: Carter-Williams has an attractive contract over the next three seasons, he’s coming off of a Rookie of the Year campaign and he was selected to the Rising Stars game this weekend, even if he’s not playing. Instead of stories coming out from the likes of Zach Lowe and Adrian Wojnarowski about the team’s intent to trade him, do the guy a favor and get it done sooner rather than later.

His value isn’t at its highest point, like it was before the 2014 NBA Draft, but MCW should still draw plenty of interest, either from a team without a point guard or from a contending team in need of a backup point guard.

What do the Sixers trade him for? Draft picks or a young piece that fits what the team needs. Sure, maybe Carter-Williams could actually prove himself as a better shooter and be less turnover prone next season, but is it worth having another year of questions at the point? If he’s not the answer and the team gets a good offer, take it.

Of the teams looking for point guards, the Lakers, Knicks, Pacers, Kings and Celtics are all in need of a better option at the point than what they currently have. Of contending teams, the Thunder, Trailblazers, Spurs, Grizzlies and Bulls could use a more serviceable backup.

If I’m the Sixers, I’m looking at that Lakers currently projected 27th pick in the upcoming draft as a potential trade partner with the Sixers. A trade of Carter-Williams to the Lakers and a pair of future second-rounders for Ed Davis, Philadelphia native Wayne Ellington and their late first-rounder next season would give both team’s something they need. The Sixers gain Davis, who would be a Thaddeus Young-like offensive piece off the bench, Ellington on an expiring deal and a late first-rounder which is projected to field the likes of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jerian Grant by DraftExpress. For the Lakers, they receive a legit point guard with Magic Johnson’s stamp of approval to pair with Kobe Bryant (in likely his last season) and a couple second-rounders to find talent later.

The Lakers can look for a big man in the draft, the Sixers can move their focus on their next point guard (D’Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay). For both parties involved the trade would be a success.

Trade

Smith: I should preface this answerby saying that I am not the biggest Carter-Williams fan in Philadelphia. However, I am not a hater either.For me it boils down to the idea that he is a good point guard, but in a League dominated by elite perimeter players, MCW is not and will not develop into a guard who can help lead you to a title. So why spend any more time on this experiment.

There are a number of contenders as well as teams on the playoff bubble that are desperate for backcourt upgrades. So I have to imagine someone makes a ridiculously stupid offer for MCW and Sam Hinkie jumps all over the deal. For instance, if Milwaukee who is currently in 6th place in the East and could use a point guard to replace or backup Jarrett Jack, offered the 76ers their 2015 1st round pick (slotted 17th) and Kendall Marshall (currently injured, so the Sixers would have to waive his physical; but he is off the books after this season) for MCW, I would take that deal in a heartbeat. I bet Hinkie would as well.

Trade

Luc Mbah a Moute (10 ppg.; 4.9 rpg.; 10.67 PER; 48.3 TS%):

McMenamin: Mbah a Moute is the guy who I’ve looked at as the most likely to be moved at the deadline. He’s on an expiring deal, he’s averaging 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in his last five games and he’s shown to be a capable defender throughout the season. I’m unsure how much direction he gives to Joel Embiid at the moment, but this is just about the only reason I could see the Sixers feeling the need to keep him around for the rest of the season. Trade him for whatever value you can get for him which isn’t much. A couple second-round picks is a win as far as I’m concerned.

TRADE

Smith: I’ll second those thoughts.We all know that Hinkie and Brown love LRMAM, but it’s time to move on from a guy who helps us win games now, is not part of the long range plans for this franchise and takes minutes away from the young kids on this roster. For a contender in the tightly contested Western Conference, Luc can provide a defensive presence as well as a nice scoring punch off the bench. I don’t think Hinkie can get more than a second round pick for LRMAM and I am okay with that idea.

Houston owns multiple 2nd rounders in the 2015 NBA Draft and needs interior help with D12 on the shelf for 6 weeks. OKC is also in need of improvement on the defensive end and could ship their 2nd round pick (projected 43rd overall) to Hinkie in exchange for Luc.

TRADE

Robert Covington (13 ppg.; 4 rpg. 15.02 PER; 55.6 TS%):

McMenamin: Covington isn’t going anywhere. No sense in trying to even speculate here.

STAY

Smith: I’ll have to disagree with you here. For me, the only untouchable on this roster is Embiid and I am willing to bet that Hinkie feels the same way. I love what Covington has done for the Sixers this season, but he is very one dimensional and there are a number of players in the D-League (Where Cov came from.) and Europe who can fill it up from three. Additionally, Cov is helping the Sixers win games NOW and that is not part of the plan. Finally, the Sixers have Jordan McRae stashed down in Australia and I like his chances of having a huge impact on this roster in 2015-16. So there are a number of ways to replace Covington’s production in the long haul.

If Cov’s name is as popular on the trade rumor mill as some online writers will have you believe, then it is likely one GM will make an absolutely over the top offer for him. If that happens and Hinkie is able to get a late 1st round pick or very early 2nd rounder for him, I would pull the trigger on that deal.

TRADE

Andrei Kirilenko (Stats N/A):

McMenamin: Who is going to trade for somebody who’s being fined for not reporting to his team? I don’t see AK47 drawing any interest at the deadline. Just let his situation play itself out, which will likely resort in a release by the Sixers where contending teams can try to lure him in then.

RELEASE/TRADE

Smith: I agree. At this point I would take a new mascot in exchange for AK47 (I am not a big fan of the blue dog.), but I don’t anticipate any deal coming down the pike for Kirilenko. I did like this AK47 to the Wizards for Martell Webster and a 2nd round pick proposal I read online, but even that seems farfetched at this point.

RELEASE/TRADE

Jeff McMenamin is a scribe for Philadunkia. You can follow him on Twitter @Sixersblog.

C. Smith is the Editor of Philadunkia.com. You can follow us on Twitter @philadunkia.

Tim Frazier, PG37 MIN | 0-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 8 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 0 PTS | +15 +/-Obviously Frazier needs some work on his shooting stroke, but I have to give the kid credit, with little to no practcie he has performed very well in his two games with the 76ers. Last night his ability to push the ball up the floor, get into the defense and then kick the ball out to the 3-point line to an open shooter was a thing of beauty to watch.

Jerami Grant, SF15 MIN | 1-5 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 4 PTS | -7 +/-I don’t hvae a single note on Grant from last night. But I can tell you that he is in a slump of sorts as he is averaging 4 pts and 4 boards per night over his last 3 games.

Hollis Thompson, SG34 MIN | 6-9 FG | 3-4 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 18 PTS | 0 +/-If Thompson doesn’t knock off this streak of excellent play I may have to change my thoughts on his long range status with the 76ers. Last night HT was letting fly from all over the court and every time he put one up, I was fairly confident that it was going in. He is now averaging 19 ppg. over his last 3 contests.

Brett Brown
I have to give Brown a good deal of credit for keeping this team in the fight when they fell behind by 16, for pushing all the right substitution buttons and riding HT’s hot hand. Hell, the defense looks so much better of late, I can’t believe it’s the same team. If this keeps up, Hinkie may have to fire his ass.

Six Things We Saw Last Night…

1) If you watched this contest, you know that the game got turned on its ear during the late 2nd Q/early 3rd Q because of an epic run by the 76ers. Trailing by 16 points with about 3 mins. remaining in the 1st half, the Sixers posted a 15-2 to close out the 2nd Q. HT had 6 points in that push.

2) Coming out of the locker room at half, the Sixers opened the 3rd Q with a 22-6 burst and with just under 4 mins. left in the Q, the Sixers owned a 10 point lead. Cov drained 3 treys in that push and tallied 11 points overall.

3) “So it’s 30-46 and we had a timeout and you say, ‘The game is gone. The game is leaving us. We have to find a way to bring this back to some level of respectability before halftime,’” Brown said. “They did it. We went on a 12-2 run and kept our momentum going in maybe our best period of the season. The third quarter was exceptional on both sides. It definitely set the table for us.”

4) Going back to 2013-14, the 76ers are now 1-21 without MCW when MCW is not in the lineup.

5) If you follow the NBA closely, you know that the Hornets have been playing very well of late (7-3 in last 10; 2 big W’s over WASH recently) and a big reason for their surge in play has been Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. So I do not think it can be overlooked at just how devastating MKG’s strained hamstring injury was for the Hornets last night. CHA was up by 11 points when Kidd-Gilchrist went down and simply looked lost for the rest of the game. He is the heart and soul of that team.

6) Time for a rant…While I realize this is the season of Tank 2.0 (a.k.a. the double-tank) and I commend Tim Frazier for the job he has done with little or not practice, I have to call out Sam Hinkie and say that it has been simply irresponsible of him not to have added a steady back up PG to this roster over the last two season. That became especially true the moment Wroten went down. I know I have requested that a PG be added many times. Brett Brown has made a few sly comments here and there about his interest in adding another point to the roster as well. While I find it entertaining to watch the Frazier’s & Drew II’s get their shot in the League with the Sixers, Hinkie has shirked his duties in this area and it needs to change.